Avalanche sign Jillson, Purinton

The Colorado Avalanche, parent club of the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters, have signed defensemen Jeff Jillson and Dale Purinton to one-year contracts.

Jillson, 26, was a first-round draft choice of the San Jose Sharks (14th overall) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound native of North Smithfield, R.I., is a veteran of 140 NHL contests with San Jose, Boston and Buffalo. He also has 31 goals and 66 assists for 97 points in 227 career AHL games with Rochester, Providence and Cleveland.

A former three-year letterman at the University of Michigan, Jillson had 30 points (10g, 20a) in 73 AHL games for Rochester in 2005-06. He spent the 2006-07 season in Germany.

Purinton, 30, is a veteran of 181 NHL games over 10 professional seasons, recording 20 points (4g, 16a) and 578 penalty minutes for the New York Rangers. Last season with Hartford (AHL), Purinton notched three goals, seven assists and 240 PIM.

A 6-foot-3, 226-pound native of Fort Wayne, Ind., Purinton has played 215 career AHL games, all with Hartford, compiling 11 goals, 18 assists and 1,240 PIM. He was a member of the Wolf Pack’s 2000 Calder Cup championship team.

“Dale adds a measure of size and toughness to our organization’s depth chart and Jeff brings offensive ability from the blue line,” said Avalanche assistant general manager Greg Sherman. “They each have a solid balance of experience both at the American Hockey League and NHL levels.”